Relief valve



SePt- 23, 1952 I A. G. JoHNsoN 2,611,390

l RELIEF VALVE Filed Nov. 14, 1947 u INVENToR.

A NDR/5w GJOHNSUA Patented Sept. 23, 1952 :Jig: 15g

RELIEF VALVE Andrew G. Johnson, Lakewood, Ohio, assignorto The Weatherhead Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,939

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-494) This invention relates to valves and in its preferred form is directed to a relief valve for the protection of pressure vessels containing liquefied petroleum gas, although the principles of the 2 thesame as that of the inlet Il, andthe sleeve forms a continuation of the inlet. The upper end of the tube is beveled to form a seat I4. for a movable valve member I5 comprising a valve invention may be employed in various types of '5 disk I6 .which is the Vbase or bottom of a Vrelavalves, and the preferred form of the valve emtively deep .cup the cylindrical portion Il `of bodying those principles is well suited to the which is dimensioned for a free sliding fit Vover venting of iiuids, either gaseous or liquid, upon the outer surface of the tube I3, and thus conthe occurrence of excessive pressures. stitutes a guide for the valve disk. The valve Thefunction of the relief valve is to block the member I5 is formed with a flange I8 at the passage of fluid until a pressure is reached for lower end which forms a seat for a coil comwhich the valve is preset, whereupon the valve pression spring I9, the upper end of which is opens to pass fluid until the pressure is reduced, seated against an annular retainer 2 I. The cenwhereupon the valve closes. By employing a tral opening of the retainer 2l is dimensioned spring of low tension, the valve may operate as for free sliding movement of the valve member I5 a check valve. l therein and its outer margin is threaded for ad- The principal objects of the invention are to justment within interior threads 22 in the upper provide a unidirectional valve, such as a relief or pOIlOD 0f the Shell 3 Radial SlOS 23 in the recheck valve which: tainer are provided for the application of a 1s of high Capacity with respect; to the Size of 20 suitable wrench. The retainer 2l is preferably the valve; o tack soldered to prevent rotation after the valve Maintains its pressure setting with a high deiS Cellbleted t0 the desired relief Pressure l gre@ vof constancy; v A disk 25 of resilient material such, for exam- IS free from chatter and irregular operation; ple, 3S alltlclal. rubber, 1S Cemnted t0 the Operates smoothly and with o minimum of 25 I6 so as to engage the seat I4 for effective sealfriction; ing when the valve is closed. When the pres- Is protected against accumulations of moisture Sure Wljhn the tube 'i3 exceeds that fel' Which which might freeze and disable the valve; and lille Spun? le 1S Set the f ofee eXeted- 011 the IS Simplel rugged, reliable, and economical of disk 25 will lift the valve, sliding the cylinder I 'I monufaoturo upwardly along the tube I3. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention The 'ppe 130113101? 0f the Cylmder n 1S formed more or less ancillary in nature, and the manner te PYOVlde e plllrehty- 0f dlseheree Openllge 3| in which the various objects of the invention are Gf large aree' lmmelletely below the elek 25 reaiized, win be apparent to those skilled in the thrQugh Whlh Phe fluld is vented when the Valve art from the following description is lifted from its seat. The total area of the Referring to the drawings: openings 3l should be greater than the cross-sec- Fig. 1 is an axial section of a relief valve emnon@ aree' of the tube 3 m Order to provlde bodying the invention; and maximum flow of gas. Preferably these open- Fig 2 is a cross seotionai View of the Some ings are rectangular, are three in number, and taken on the piane indicated in Figi- 4o are separated only by relatively narrow portions The form of valve illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 01' tens1n-memlrs 2s of me 3y-under l so comprises a body 4, the bose 5 of which is formed as to provide 'discharge openings substantially with external tapered threads 6 or other suitable around the entlfe Perlmele' 0f the Valve Seat |4- means for attachment-toa fluid reservoir, line, The Shell 3 extends Shghtly beyond the lube or other tting. The portion 'I of the body 4 is 45 I3 so as partially to -enclose and protect the preferably hexagonal for application of a wrench. VelVe member l5. t0 Cllleet the UW 0f ges 11p- The operating parts of the valve are contained ward and outward from the discharge openings within a' cylindrical casing 8 preferably integral 3l when the valve is opened Slightly, and t0 Dre- With the base 5 vent obstruction to the normal upward and out- Fluid is admitted to the valve throughY a bore 5o ward 110W 0f gas when the valve Opens fully.

II in the base 5, the lower end I2 of which is preferably radiused to promote smooth flow. A central tube I3 preferably integral with the base 5, extends along the axis of the shell 8. Preferably, the inner diameter of the tube I3 is In the operation of the valve, the valve remains seated until the pressure in the tube I3 exceeds` the pre-set value, when the valve will open, the disk I8 being lifted from the seat I and the discharge openings 3l moving .outof register with the upper portion of the tube I3. As the valve opens, fluid rushing through the valve impinges against the disk 25 at high velocity, the impact of the fluid thus tending to open the valve more fully or hold it open. The fluid escaping from the ports 3| will pass into the atmosphere at an angle to the axis of the valve, in a conical path due to its initial upward velocity and outward deflection by the disk I5. Due to the high velocity of the fluid escaping past the flat outer surface of the disk, a vacuum will be developed above the disk which will further tend to hold the Valve from its seat. The forces resulting from the dynamic action of the moving fluid thus assist in opening the valve and eliminate any tendency of the valve to chatter, which tendency is an undesirable characteristic of valves which rely on static pressure of the fluid for their action.

The clear and open discharge path from the ports 3| and the resulting free flow of gas from the valve prevents the development of back pressure above the movable valve member which would tend to urge it toward its seat, or, in other wordsl promotes the maintenance of a low pressure or vacuum condition immediately above the movable valve member which, as previously stated, tends to open the valve.

The spring I9 has a relatively low rate, the spring tension corresponding to the full open position of the valve being preferably only about 15% greater than the spring tension with the valve closed. It will be noted that the upper face of the spring retainer 2| is below the seat I4 so that the retainer does not obstruct the flow of fluid.

With the valve of the invention, it has been found by experiment that a slightly greater quantity of gas passes through the valve than would pass through a simple orifice of the diameter ofv the opening II. With previously known valves, the flow has been considerably less than that which would pass through the entrance to the valve if not otherwise impeded. This increased capacity for a given size of valve has obvious advantages, greater safety with the same size of valve, or equivalent safety with a smaller valve. The high efiiciency of the valve is a result of the large discharge ports to eliminate throttling, the very slight interference with straight flow of the fluid from the tube I3, and the arrangement of the casing 8, the guide I'I for the valve, and the seating spring so as not to interfere with the free flow of the gas discharged from the outlets 3|.

The valve may open to varying extents depending upon the quantity of fluid to be discharged through the valve. Ordinarily, in its operation as a safety or relief valve, the valve will open wide. It has been found by experiment that the valve passes substantially the same amount of iiuid with the cup I5 in place and discharging gas under such pressure that the discharge ports 3| are fully opened as with the cup I5 removed entirely and gas under the same head introduced into the tube I3.

Another advantage of this valve is the relatively long guiding engagement between the sleeve I1 and the tube I3, and the application of the spring force at a point considerably removed from and below the valve seat, eliminating any tendency of the valve to stick or open unevenly.

A vent 33 is drilled through the shell 8 at the lower end of the annular cavity in the casing to drain off any moisture which may collect within the valve. This provision for escape of water is of importance in installations in which the valve is exposed to the elements with the discharge end open so that rain may enter, since any rain collecting in the valve might freeze and interfere with the opening of the valve or the seating thereof. This is particularly important since the discharge from the valve does not blow out the body, and expansion of the escaping gas might freeze water collected in the valve and prevent its closing.

The inlet fitting 5, shell 8, and central tube |3 are disclosed herein as formed from a single piece of metal, but it will be obvious that this structure may be an assembly of two or more component parts.

Although the invention has been described herein as a relief valve, it will be apparent that by the provision of a spring I9 under slight compression, the valve may function as a check valve and retain the advantages of high eflciency and consistent operation it has when used as a relief valve.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A relief valve comprising a tubular member adapted to communicate at its inner end with a fluid pressure system and having a valve seat at its outer end, a tubular shell surrounding said tubular member and fixed thereto at the inner end of said shell, said shell having an open outer end disposed axially outwardly of said valve seat, a valve member including an end wall carrying a valve closure member arranged to engage and seal against said valve seat and including guide means extending along said tubular member and having spring abutment means extending therefrom adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring retainer mounted in said shell and positioned axially inward from the outer end of said tubular member, a compression spring engaging said spring retainer and said spring abutment means and urging said valve closure member against said valve seat, said valve member having radial openings adjacent the valve closure member, said openings and the outer edge of said tubular member defining a fluid passageway having an area at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the outlet passageway of said tubular member when said valve member is moved outwardly the maximum amount permitted by said spring.

2. A relief valve comprising a tubular member adapted to communicate at its inner end with a fluid pressure system and having a valve seat at its outer end, a tubular shell surrounding said tubular member and fixed thereto at the inner end of said shell, said shell having an open outer end disposed axially outwardly of said valve seat. a cup-shaped valve member including an end wall portion carrying a valve closure member arranged to engage and seal against said valve seat and including a cylindrical guide portion means extending along said tubular member, a spring abutment flange extending from the inner end of said guide portion, a spring retainer mounted in said shell and positioned axially inward from the outer end of said tubular member, a compression spring engaging said spring retainer and said spring abutment flange and urging said valve closure member against said valve seat, the cylindrical portion of said valve member having radial openings adjacent the valve closure member, said openings and the outer edge of said tubular member defining a fluid passageway having an area at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the outlet passageway oi said tubular member when said valve member is moved outwardly the maximum amount permitted by said spring.

3. A relief valve comprising a tubular member adapted to communicate at its inner end with a uid pressure system and having a valve seat at its outer end, a tubular shell surrounding said tubular member and xed thereto at the inner end of said shell, said shell having an open outer end disposed axially outwardly of said valve seat, a valve member including an end wall carrying a valve closure member arranged to engage the seal against said valve seat and including guide means extending along said tubular member and having spring abutment means extending therefrom adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring retainer mounted in said shell and positioned axially inward of the cone defined by the outer end of said shell and the outer end of said tubu- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this` patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 240,369 Blake Apr. 19, 1981 727,476 Starr May 5, 1903 '772,668 OBrien Oct. 18, 1904 1,159,687 Krait Nov. 9, 1915 1,701,305 Meyers Feb. 5, 1929 2,206,356 Hutchings July 2, 1940 2,281,142y Davis Apr. 28, 1942 2,530,091 Smith Nov. 14, 1950 

